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3 rings, no boot
- Thread starter Tearose
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- #4
No, they aren't beeps. She put me on speaker phone so I heard it, and it's just like when youo dial a number and get a Fax machine- that kind of ring sound.
She can't get an error message, because those rings and the flashing light are as far as the computer gets; it doesn't boot up.
She can't get an error message, because those rings and the flashing light are as far as the computer gets; it doesn't boot up.
Think you need to investigate the actual machine then - disconnecting everything to see if it boots, then reconnecting hardware to see what's causing the problem (if it does boot disconnected - otherwise sounds like mobo or processor, but never heard sounds like that from them before. Have heard strange sounds from a problematical internal modem, though not sure if they match the description here)
- Thread starter
- #10
My friend Dennis says I should check the CMOS battery, since it doesn't get as far a being able to boot or not. I guess I should ask if she turned on the screen and if anything was there, but I assumed she did and there wasn't. She'd have told me if there was any error message, and I'm pretty sure it occurred to her to turn on the monitor. Anyway, any ideas regarding the CMOS battery?
Jill (tearose)
Jill (tearose)
Some types of Maxtor drives give of 3 beeping noises when there is a problem iwth the motor. Check the drive and if it is a MAxtor, slave it to another machine and see if that is the problem. If it is, the drive will not be spinning.
You will need to get the drive repaired to recover any data, but if they are not after data, just replace the drive.
You will need to get the drive repaired to recover any data, but if they are not after data, just replace the drive.
As for the cmos battery, you can now get them at the $1 stores, if you are in north america. So its not a bad idea.
You can also check them with a battery checker, they should be around 1.5 volts.
While at it you could reset the bios. check the motherboard manual as the process varies. Usually amounts to taking the battery out and moving cmos jumper over one position and leaving it for a few minutes then putting things back the way they were and booting up. But check manual.
Another thing, does the bios list the hard drive or show no hard drive?
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You can also check them with a battery checker, they should be around 1.5 volts.
While at it you could reset the bios. check the motherboard manual as the process varies. Usually amounts to taking the battery out and moving cmos jumper over one position and leaving it for a few minutes then putting things back the way they were and booting up. But check manual.
Another thing, does the bios list the hard drive or show no hard drive?
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
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- #13
Finally found the manual- the sound was a warning to let the user know that beeps would follow. I called her back and there were 2 beeps, meaning the power supply was in protected mode. I have no idea what that means, and the manual had no information on power supply or protected mode. I could switch the power supply from another identical computer that's not in use. That would probably be the best way to go for the moment, and figure out if I need a new power supply later.
thats a great idea, providing the pc isnt a Dell or some other pc with a proprietary power supply. In which case you will destroy the power supply and motherboard and possibly the hard drive.
Better make sure what make and model before you swap power supplies, unless its home built pc.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
Better make sure what make and model before you swap power supplies, unless its home built pc.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
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- #15
They're HP Vectras. I haven't heard of propriatary popwer supplies before. I assumed parts from identical computers would be interchangeable. Anyway, I emailed their tech support to ask what protected mode meant and if I need a new power supply. I didn't ask if I could just switch with another computer, but if he says I need a new one, I'll ask.
You want to check, although, if i recall correctly, you are ok with a desktop HP mobo. Matter of fact i just built one from an HP. I do charity work, build units from donated parts and such. This HP uses standard ps.
But not all use standard power supplies. Dell is notorious for this, although i have heard they stopped doing this but only recently. I build my own anyway but i would never buy a Dell if the power supply wasnt standard. Too many of us dont know and kill a lot of hardware that way!!
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
But not all use standard power supplies. Dell is notorious for this, although i have heard they stopped doing this but only recently. I build my own anyway but i would never buy a Dell if the power supply wasnt standard. Too many of us dont know and kill a lot of hardware that way!!
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
Hi OP,
there is a good guide to mobo beeping codes here,
there is a good guide to mobo beeping codes here,
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